Trump: There would be no Israel without me
Donald Trump has claimed that “there would be no Israel” without him, deepening tensions with Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking at the G7 summit alongside Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Than, the Emir of Qatar, the US president said: “Without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did.
“Israel would have been blown up a long time ago, had I not gotten involved.”
Mr Trump also urged the Israeli president to show restraint in Lebanon, where frequent strikes have threatened a peace deal with Iran.
He said: “I’ve had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.
“Lebanon used to be a great country. It was a country where you had professors, doctors, lawyers. The great intellect was in Lebanon. Now it’s just terrible.”
The remarks are the latest in a series of barbs by Mr Trump towards the Israeli prime minister, having accused him of having “no f---ing judgment” in a phone call on Sunday.